What Does General Liability Insurance Cover?
July 9, 2026
What general liability insurance covers, Coverage A, B, and C of the CGL policy, the key exclusions, cost, and the endorsements that can quietly narrow it.
Read guideGeneral Liability Insurance
Protect your business when a customer is hurt, property is damaged, or your work leads to a third party claim. We compare carriers and explain the forms behind every quote.
We shop the market for you, no broker fees
Eight relevant markets are shown for comparison. Availability depends on the risk and location, and a logo does not imply a direct appointment.
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Small business liability
Hiscox
Professional and service businesses
The Hartford
Small commercial packages
Chubb
Middle market liability
Travelers
Commercial liability
Markel
Specialty business risks
AmTrust
Small commercial liability
Great American
Specialty casualty
Built for businesses that work with people, property, or products
- Contractors and trades
- Restaurants and retailers
- Property owners and managers
- Manufacturers and wholesalers
What changes your premium
These details help insurers assess your business and price the coverage. Terms and available options vary by insurer.
- Your class of business and what you actually do day to day
- Annual revenue, and payroll where the line rates on it
- How many people work for you, including subcontractors
- Where you operate, down to the ZIP and the building
- The limits and deductible you choose
- Your claims history over the last three to five years
How it works
10 minute form
A few questions about your business or home.
We shop the market
We compare carriers and read the forms line by line.
Quote and bind
We pick the best policy and get you covered.
What this policy can cover
Third-party bodily injury
Injuries to customers, vendors, or visitors tied to your operations or premises.
Third-party property damage
Damage your operations cause to property that belongs to someone else.
A crew you sent to a client site knocks over a sprinkler riser and floods two floors. The building owner comes to you for a repair bill in the six figures plus the tenants' losses. That is the claim this coverage is built for.
Products and completed operations
Claims that arise after a job is finished or a product you sold causes harm.
Personal and advertising injury
Libel, slander, and certain advertising-related claims.
A competitor claims your new campaign copied their tagline and sues. The defense costs run into tens of thousands before anyone decides who was right, and defense is the part most owners forget to price.
Why do I need general liability insurance?
Because a claim you did not cause on purpose is still yours to answer. A customer trips in your shop, a crew damages a client's floor, a competitor says your campaign copied theirs. This is the policy that responds, and it pays to DEFEND you as well as to settle, which is the half most owners have never priced.
Frequently asked questions
What does general liability insurance cover?
It covers third-party bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury tied to your operations, including products and completed operations.
How much does general liability insurance cost in California?
Cost depends on your class of business, revenue or payroll, limits, location, and claims history. We quote it against your actual operation rather than a flat rate.
Is general liability insurance required?
It is rarely required by state law, but leases, clients, and contracts routinely require it, often at 1 million dollars per occurrence and 2 million dollars aggregate.
What limits do I need?
A common contract requirement is 1 million per occurrence and 2 million aggregate. Some landlords and projects ask for higher limits or an umbrella on top.
How is general liability different from professional liability?
General liability covers physical injury and property damage. Professional liability covers financial harm caused by your advice or services.
Does general liability cover an employee who gets hurt?
No. Injuries to your own employees are the job of workers' compensation, and general liability specifically excludes them. In California the obligation starts the moment you have an employee, and some contractor classifications must carry it even without employees.
Does general liability cover a mistake in my work or my advice?
No. General liability answers bodily injury and property damage. A claim that the work itself was wrong, that a design failed, or that your advice cost the client money is a professional liability claim.
Does general liability cover my own building, tools or inventory?
No. It covers damage you do to other people's property, not your own. Your building, equipment, stock and tenant improvements sit on a commercial property policy or inside a business owner's policy.
Does general liability cover an accident in a company vehicle?
No. Anything involving an owned, hired or non-owned vehicle is commercial auto. This is one of the most common gaps we find, usually on a business that started using a personal truck for work.
Build your liability coverage with a licensed broker
Tell us what your business does. We will shop the market and walk you through the options in plain English.